TASMANIAN thoroughbred trainer Glenn Stevenson revealed that his latest winner Dollar Dan was picked up for a bargain price after he failed to negotiate the purchase privately with the gelding’s former owners.
Stevenson explained that a mate who worked for Sydney trainer Tim Martin alerted him of the horse that was about to be sold.
“I contacted the managing owners but he wanted $20,000 and we weren’t prepared to pay that much,” Stevenson said.
“But the horse ended up at an Inglis dispersal sale in Sydney and I had someone at the sale to try and buy him.”
“When he rang me he said there were only five people hanging around the sale ring when this horse entered and we ended up getting him for $5000,” he said.
Dollar Dan was well backed at his first start for Stevenson at Launceston but ran into trouble during the race and the new owners left their money in the bookies’ bags.
But with that run under his belt Stevenson convinced the owners to reload and they were all smiles after this latest assignment in a maiden/class one over 1650 metres..
Dollar Dan settled well back in the field in a race that was run at a farcical tempo with interference aplenty in the first half of the race.
Apprentice Georgie Catania was prepared to bide her time at the rear and when she made her move 550 metres out Dollar Dan moved into contention quickly and he let down brilliantly in the home straight to go on and score comfortably from Porto and Set For Tea.
Dollar Dan is by Elusive Quality from the 2002 VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese that was bred in the USA.
Dollar Dan was purchased for $125,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2010 but he didn’t start racing until April 2013.
After four starts he broke through for his maiden win at Scone (1300m) wearing blinkers for the first time but after a bunch of minor placings he lost his way and was sold.
“I am sure this horse will be better when he gets over the longer distances so this season we’ll be trying to aim him at a couple of the minor cups to see how he fares,” Stevenson said,.